MSC – Magnificent Shipping Company ?

MSC – Mediterranean Shipping Company – will have their second summer sailing out of Southampton in 2014, and have appointed Giles Hawke as their UK and Ireland Managing Director. Giles was previously responsible for Sales and Customer Service for Carnival UK – which is Cunard and P&O, so has loads of experience in the UK market.

MSC Opera will sail throughout the summer from Southampton, being joined later in the year buy the MSC Magnifica. The combination of Giles Hawke and the Magnifica will, I suspect, be causing ripples of concern  to the likes of P&O and Royal Caribbean.

One of the reasons is their fantastic children’s prices. Sailing out of the UK children, sharing a cabin with their parents, only pay port taxes of around £ 120 per child and this is all season, including school holidays. This is a fantastic plus point for MSC.

On the others ide of the coin the comment from clients is often ” but they`re Italian”. Yes they are, but would you go to Italy on holiday?, one of the most  beautiful places in the world, of course you would. They are also excellent with children and have brilliant facilities on board.

I have been on Magnifica and she is gorgeous! The best words to describe her are luxurious, sumptuous and oozing  Italian style elegance. I loved the Tiger Bar, touch the chairs, they are so soft and furry! Walk through the main  restaurant and touch the columns – they are real marble! No expense has been spared with this ship.

I had an inside cabin and it was the quietest cabin I have ever slept in, large and well appointed too.

Just bear in mind that it is an Italian ship and things happen a bit later than on some other cruise lines. If you opt for the late dinner sitting it might be 11.30 before you get out of the restaurant, but just think that you are in Italy – everyone dines later there, and the food is excellent too – just like in Italy.

Magnifica debuts to the UK market with several short seven night cruise starting in September. If they prove to be the expected success the I think we might see Magnifica in England for 2015 summer season, the MSC really will be the Magnificent Shipping Company !